3 Freelancing Limiting Beliefs Guaranteed To Destroy Your Career And How To Conquer These Mental Blocks

Today I’m happy to present you with a guest blogger.

Ryan Biddulph who is a very talented and successful blogger and freelance writer has accepted my invitation to write a post for me as I’m facing some difficult times right now.

So, without further ado, let’s find out what are some limiting beliefs that could hold your freelance career as a writer or any freelance business you might be in.

Sylviane, thanks so much for extending this kind offer to me!

I accepted Sylviane’s gracious request because I see so few fellow freelance writers out there who actually write helpful, high energy, practical posts regarding how to prosper through freelance writing.

Sylviane does – and you can look back through the archives for her dead on insight – which is why I’m posting today.

Before I move forward, I wanted to let you know that I’m typing these words from Savusavu, Fiji. This is quite possibly the most peaceful, beautiful island on earth, the dream destination for so many folks around the world. I’ve also lived for months in places like Bali, Costa Rica, Phuket, and a handful of other tropical hotspots, blogging and freelance writing my way into a dream internet lifestyle.

The guy who’s the founder of Blogging From Paradise, and the freelance writing business owner, was a fired security guard 5 years ago, with no money, and no rosy prospects on the horizon.

I had to uncover, uproot and eradicate hundreds if not thousands of limiting beliefs to go from unemployed, down and out New Jersey pier guard to world traveling blogger.

I’m Not a Good Enough Writer to Charge Money

Yes, you are, in most cases. In other cases, you just need to write daily, for at least 60 minutes, to gain enough confidence in your skills to charge money for your services.

I recalled noting on Facebook a while back how any pro freelancer should start at $25 per article, minimum, for offering their services. This $25 should apply to 600 word articles.

I received a comment from someone who said that number was way too high. I’ve known a few freelance writers who charge $5. For a 500 word article. No, I’m not kidding.

These people believe that they’re not good enough, or skilled enough, writing-wise, to charge more than $5 per article.

Then another crowd doesn’t bother charging at all. They think that nobody would pay them to churn out articles.

You will generate online income through freelance writing when you believe you can make a living through this channel and when you feel like you deserve to generate income through freelancing.

This happens after you’ve taken one practical step; which is the step of steps: you write for one or more hours daily. Doing so improves your skills quickly, boosts your confidence and uproots any deserving issues you cling to.

Write, write and write some more. With practice, you’ll believe that you deserve to cash in. If you don’t feel as deserving, or your belief system is damaged for some reason, but your writing skills rock, consider doing EFT tapping or self hypnosis, or some other self help technique to uproot and replace limiting beliefs.

Logic dictates that you’d be silly to expect to land 3 jobs – let alone 3 high paying jobs – but lo and behold, she did it.

Sylviane talks much about changing your beliefs to change your prospects of success. Kelli did a bunch of clearing around her freelance writing business and each one of these jobs fell into her lap.

How? The mental clearing, through meditation, detaching and raising her overall vibe, played a chief role in the process but she simply let go the lame idea that there’s too much competition to land a freelance writing job.

There’s not too much competition, just:

A limiting belief

Fear of failure

Fear of criticism

Not enough creativity

Write this excuse on a piece of paper now, burn it, over the sink, or bathtub, and be gone with it forever. The idea of competition is impossible in an abundant Universe.

Turtle Syndrome

I recall my second freelance client. She hired me. I produced articles for her. I sent them to her. She remarked that she’d have been better off going with a Fiverr writer as my work was terrible.

I was devastated. At this tender age in my career I had little confidence in myself and I was sensitive to any criticism, let alone a nasty little barb.

I went into a shell. I stopped promoting my freelance writing business. I must be a fraud, I thought. Well, a few months down the road I decided to spread the word. I attracted a few clients, one of whom is an authority digital marketer who’s known far and wide.

What happened? I came out of my shell. I decided to embrace criticism as a suggestion. After doing this, I began to promote my freelance writing business again.

Sure, nobody likes harsh, nasty criticism but the snarky barbs have everything to do with them and nothing to do with me. My writing may have been poor at the time – although it was solid, methinks – but a caring, loving person would have offered suggestions.

This person in particular told me how she was burned by writers in the past, and she obviously carried this negative, “cheated” energy with her, everywhere she went.

I have nothing to do with her karmic crap storm. I accepted this fact, promoted my freelance writing business aggressively and landed a few high profile clients.

Folks, embrace criticism. The fear of receiving a suggestion, or feedback, is a limiting belief which cripples your freelance writing career before it takes off. Promote, listen, engage, accept suggestions, and in most cases, folks will offer feedback from a positive, high energy, loving space.

Your Turn

What limiting beliefs can you add to this list?

Have you struggled with any of these limiting beliefs as a freelance writer?

Ryan Biddulph is an Internet lifestyle junkie, blogger, freelance writer and world traveler. He also owns bloggingfromparadise.com.

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Sylviane Nuccio is a professional Writer/Content Strategist and a Success Coach. She is a regular contributor to Huffington Post, International Living and Chamber of Commerce. She helps new entrepreneurs to become financially free.

54 Comments

Thank you so much for accepting my guest post request during this difficult time for me. I haven’t been able to write for a week, and going through some gut wrenching times right now that prevent me to be productive.

This said, it really shows that if the mind is not there, then nothing is, and it goes hand in hand with your topic. BELIEF is a must, and it’s so sad that some writers have such little faith in themselves that they accept to write for minimum wage or less. How pitiful. They really need this type of posts.

I’ve learned a few years back that the the fear of competition is nothing less than a negative, limiting belief, so I was so glad when you included this topic as well. Since we’re over 6 billion on this planet, we’re bound to have some type of competition, but that’s not the problem, the problem is if you think that such competition will be a problem for YOU.

So true too what you said here, and so interesting that at times we forget that an unhappy client or one that can’t make decisions is one that carries his or her own negative vibes, and we want to stay away from those. I’ve had a few of those as well, and now I have an affirmation that says that I am attracting the “ideal client.”

Sylviane, thanks so much for extending this generous opportunity to me 🙂 You make great points all around. This freelance gig really is an inside-out game, and when you clear limiting beliefs around your business, you’ll be free to prosper.

Welcome to Sylviane’s blog – good to see you here, and I am glad you are here at her time of need. I hope you are feeling better too, Sylviane – I can understand how it gets….but perhaps with each passing day, it gets a little better.

Coming to your wonderful post, Ryan, being a freelance writer myself, I was nodding my head right through your post. Yes, there are so many out there who charge peanuts or accept anything that they are given. not realizing their own potential, and I wish they would change.

I know the competition is tough, just as you mentioned, and finding the right kind of work isn’t easy in such times, but if we try and want, we can attract the kind of work, just as Kelli did, which is awesome I would say. If you believe, you can, or you just can’t – it’s so simple, isn’t it?

Embracing criticism isn’t easy dear friend, and people have a tough time with it, though if they did, as you said, it would help them get better. That is if they see the positive side of things and take up the challenge to overcome their flaws. It’s the one thing that always makes you better, whether you are a blogger or writer.

Hi Harleena, I like your take on receiving criticism and I see it as a 2 fold situation; if you’re willing to simply embrace the energies, and learn from them, you’ll overcome your flaws. Also, you’ll learn to spot good advice – even if it’s delivered in negative fashion – versus the ramblings of an unhappy person, which is almost always bad advice, and should be ignored.

I was so glad that Ryan took over for me here this week, as it was not easy for me to keep up with blog post and comment.

Actually, saying “the competition is tough” it’s an affirmation, and I try to keep those negative affirmations at bay 🙂 because they are sneaky.

I’ve learned that a while back from a coach who told me to eliminate that phrase from my business vocabulary, so I did. I have another bunch of positive affirmations that I repeat more and more now, as I want to be like Ryan, FREE to do whatever I want! they are plenty of clients that need me and my services! I like that one 🙂

Ryan you rock!
You know I have Sylviane to turn to as soon as I start my freelance writing activities. Right now, as a blogger, I do some paid articles but I don’t still think I’m a freelance writer. I have a whole lot of work crowded around me offline.

I can be crazy to write for $5 and if I do, I won’t want to be tagged in the article 😉 So far, the list I have ever accepted is $30 and that’s because of some other benefits included in the package. I don’t think I’m that cheap 😉

Hey Sylviane thanks for inviting Ryan to share with us yet another meaty content to help us become better writers. I hope to read more from you big bro 😉Enstine Muki invites you to read..How To Edit A PDF Document ~ Soda PDF review!

Enstine thanks so much, and great move on accepting the right price 😉 It’s something freelance writers tend to struggle with. It reminds me of my days at the shipping terminal.

Some truckers would take loads below cost, meaning they’d PAY $20 or $30 to the trucking company, just to get work. That’s insane! Other truckers would wait, knowing their worth, and would make $60 or $70 or $100 or more, for loads.

Thank you very very much for this post.
Up until recently I had been writing 500 word articles for as little as 2 bucks!
I was doing this to get myself known. Trouble was when the customer got to know me they still only wanted to pay me $2!

Your post has really encouraged me to set a realistic fee for my work.

No one worth knowing should ask for a 500 word article for $2 dollars. Think about it, beggars get that much doing nothing 🙂 Shame on those guys and keep away from them as much as you can. they are just trying to take advantage of you.

Hello Mr.RyanWelcome to Ms. Sylviane site.Even though I am not a freelance writer,ni really enjoyed reading your post.I personally believe that our belief system affects us in every part of our life\’s.Limiting beliefs can effect us in relationships, health, wealth, success, etc.As a life coach my fees are based on my experiences and my education.Thank you again Mr.Ryan and I do hope Ms. Sylviane recovers soon. My thoughts are with you.Gladys

Hi Gladys, you are in a great business because many of us need help in shifting our belief systems. I had to change mine from fired, ex-security guard, to globe-trotting pro blogger and freelancer to see an immense difference in my life. Changing the image of self changes everything. Thanks so much for sharing.

We all aware about Ryan who has achieved a lot from his career of freelancer, blogger and much more.

I agree with the points mentioned above by Ryan in this post. People are sensitive and can’t bear any type of criticism but in my opinion this world is full of people who try to demoralize others. If we want to go further then self-confidence is the key.

Freelancing is not an easy job. Writing for others is hard because freelancers need to focus a lot and keep in their mind to build trust with their clients.

Ravi, this is very true. Develop confidence in self by moving in the direction of your dreams. Know that criticism is merely feedback, or a suggestion, and if the person is not nice, or outright rude, it only has to do with their unhappiness, not your skills…..because tactful, happy, kind people will offer feedback in a pleasant manner. Thanks much for sharing Ravi 🙂Ryan Biddulph invites you to read..How Fat Boss Hog and Why Guy Tony Robbins Teach Me â and You â 2 Critical Blogging Lessons

Freelance writing today is a lucrative business opportunity. As online medium has become a major source of information sharing, more and more businesses are going online. This has eventually increased the demand of content writers as any website developed for whatever purpose, must need some content in it. Also, to save costs and get focused to their primary business many people outsource content writing, bringing an opportunity for freelance writers.

Various types of freelance writing are creative writing, eBook writing, sales and marketing writing, newsletter and editorial, magazine writing, SEO writing, web blog writing and many more which we will discuss in later chapters.

What a nice surprise to see a guest post from Ryan – love your articles, they are so inspirational! 🙂 Definitely keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Sylviane. Okay, Digging in…

First off, great topic of introspection, which is definitely needed. Love the personal example, Ryan – very fitting.

Uncover, uproot and eradicate <— love it! 🙂

Yep, if you have the communication level of an eighth grader, you’re good enough, at least according to Tiffany Lambert (formerly Dow), which seems about right to me.

There is definitely a need for good content, that is well-researched and well-written, but the providers who do a great job are few. You’re exactly right, you have to be willing to put yourself out there and then those that need work will be willing to pay the price for high quality.

There is definitely a lot of competition out there, but it’s not all equal, that’s for sure, and it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enter into the arena, I agree with you!

Yes, criticism, even though given in a hurtful way sometimes, can be the push that spurs us on to become better, not bitter or timid.

While I’m not freelance, I am a writer and can definitely relate to the lack of confidence that besets a person at times. Inner confidence grows as more writing is done, and more writing is done as inner confidence grows.

What a nice surprise to see a guest post from Ryan – love your articles, they are so inspirational! 🙂 Definitely keeping you in my thoughts and prayers, Sylviane. Okay, Digging in…

First off, great topic of introspection, which is definitely needed. Love the personal example, Ryan – very fitting.

Uncover, uproot and eradicate <— love it! 🙂

Yep, if you have the communication level of an eighth grader, you’re good enough, at least according to Tiffany Lambert (formerly Dow), which seems about right to me.

There is definitely a need for good content, that is well-researched and well-written, but the providers who do a great job are few. You’re exactly right, you have to be willing to pay the price for high quality.

There is definitely a lot of competition out there, but it’s not all equal, that’s for sure, and it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t enter into the arena, I agree with you!

Yes, criticism, even though given in a hurtful way sometimes, can be the push that spurs us on to become better, not bitter or timid.

While I’m not freelance, I am a writer and can definitely relate to the lack of confidence that besets a person at times. Inner confidence grows as more writing is done and more writing is done as inner confidence grows.

Hi,I think this is a good post and I agree that a writer without confidence, is a writer who is destined to fail. Henry Ford once said that “the man who thinks he can and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.” In anything that you want to accomplish you have to believe that you can accomplish it. Go out and fail tenaciously, and as you said, learn from the mistakes. Confidence is the biggest part of accomplishing anything in life, and with confidence, determination, persistence, and self-discipline you can accomplish anything. Good post! Regards,Lawrence

Great to see sharing valuable post here. I think the biggest mental blocks will be the fear of competition. I am not so experiencing into freelancing though but may be we have to try it first because only by doing so we will learn things we need to improve in future.

You are so right here, that’s what I was saying in a comment above, just saying the competition is tough is an affirmation, and one that I try not to say at all. You’re right it’s a mental block. I love your point.

It’s good to read things like this from time to time. It does take real patience, which can be frustrating. I tend to undercharge, which makes it even harder to stand out.

I once acquired a client who took me on because he was passionate about spelling and grammar, as I am. So based on that experience, I\’m sure I\’ll get noticed by the right person one day.Nathan Ambrose invites you to read..Get Organised and Have Buckets of Time

You are right own. As writers we all have something someone else doesn’t have, you’ll attract the right clients for YOU. No worries as long as you stay positive, it will come. And charge those error free articles too. Enough so that you can be OK with it 🙂

Sylviane, you are in my prayers and I hope everything is all right with you now.

Ryan, nice to meet you in Sylviane’s place.

This is a great post!! I am not a freelancer but your post can be applied to any kind of business. It is a matter of mindset and self-belief. We need to believe in ourselves if you want to succeed in anything we choose to do. We need to believe that we truly have what it takes to be an entrepreneur so others can take us seriously. If this doesn’t come naturally then we should train ourselves to believe in our ultimate success.

Your story is inspiring and a great example for what we can achieve in life. Sometimes we are our own critics which lead us to settle for less. Believing in ourselves and pushing ourselves outside our comfort zone will give us the confidence to move forward and value ourselves because if you can’t value yourself, you can’t provide value to others.

Hi Ryan,You are a fire in blogging world, you ignite others and give light to them. Freelance writing is often something, I too believed a competition gig.But, as you said, competition is least in this abundant universe. One needs to keep looking and promoting. The first thing to do is believe and the last thing not to do is quit.Consistent improvement from criticism, that\’s how a freelancer should develop their work. The only thing stopping us is our own mind blocks. Thanks for removing it.P.S. I found this post on Kingged.

Yes, Ryan is like fire. A great quality of his, and I’m sure he’ll come to reply to the rest of the comments here and see this 🙂

As I mentioned above, competition is a word that I personally learned to never use anymore. I’ve learned that from a coach and I really loved it. You attract what you focus on, so who wants to focus on competition, right? Every single thing on earth has competition so that’s irrelevant to me. See what I mean?

Hello Ryan from Paradise,
It is a great thing seeing the Fiji man here. I did write a post about you recently but it was quite unfortunate that it didn’t get to you.

Now back to this post of yours, I see criticism as the number one killer. I for instance went into my shell of freelancing and guest posting in general when one comment came through.

My first freelance job offered me $25 but some way or the other, I thought I wasn’t good enough for the job. It was indeed a limiting belief and there is no doubt this obviously hinders success.
Things have taken on new dimensions now and I care less going in for new options even when the waters have not being tested.
Thanks for this boss!

We all have had horrible people telling us nasty things, so don’t worry. My first guest post had a very mean comment saying that my post was full of errors, which I knew wasn’t true, but some people are just mean.

When you feel that you’re not good enough, all you need to do is practice, and practice until you can build that confidence back again. I’m glad you’re feeling better now 🙂

Great post. This is a serious thing that people who freelance write go through … especially when it comes to a fee. Unfortunately, people are too caught up with trying to compete on price rather than rely on a solid USP. Their belief is, like you said, they’re not good enough to charge a higher price, so they charge $5 or less.

Then on another hand, you have services like fiverr where people can get any type of article for $5. So the story that happened to you with that woman, many people go through that and clients opt to have their articles written by writers on fiverr. But usually the quality of what they’re getting isn’t good because to succeed in fiverr, you have to (1) have many gigs going at once and (2) make your gig appealing enough so people will click (e.g. get two 500 word articles for $5).

Only problem is, the quality of those articles, 9 time out of 10, will be horrible. Better off to go with a regular freelance writer who can actually devote time to your article and make it great.

The lowest any freelance writer should charge, I think, should be $30. They have to start somewhere and continuously build up their confidence – and $5 or for free won’t do it.

Anyway, great post here on Sylviane’s site Ryan. And Sylviane, thanks for this wonderful guest post.

Hi Sylviane Nuccio
In the beginning a freelancer faces lot of challenges but it is a bitter reality the way he starts his freelance career it has impounding impact on his subsequent deals.

Initially if he compromises on lower rates he hardly gets higher subsequently.

Secondly we need not to wrongly assume if we deal with a client it will be between him and us and no one will know about it. Everybody is connected with people around him. Our employer has also lot of online contacts just like us. So it can be known to all on what rates and terms we are working for him.

So expecting secrecy will be maintained we must not accept an offer lower than our real worth.

We should know that while working as freelancer we have to be proactive and not the reactive. So we must get a work where we don’t have to push ourselves to complete in on time. All the things the amount of work, its nature and its wages all should be – if not attractive – must be acceptable to us to get it done and be a real professional.

What a very good point you made here. The price we charge a client is absolutely not confidential, as he can tell anyone under the sun he want to. We have no idea. So, that’s one more reason why we need to think about and charging something we won’t regret later on more than one level.

Hello Sylviane, good to be back after 11 days blackout of my domain name. Talking about things that can destroy ones career, wrong information and ignorance are major players, therefore, i will admonish everyone career person to do all he/she can to know what is needed to be known in his/her career.